In the 30 years since Rod Stewart’s initial success, he has enjoyed a renaissance, the result of his 2002 Emmy-nominated album, “The Great American Songbook.”
Saturday night, March 6 at the Mohegan Sun, fans stopped by to pay homage.
Proving the timelessness of Stewart’s music, nearly every age group was present in the 7,000-seat arena. (I had the “pleasure” of sitting aside a beer-drinking, foot-stomping, hooting and hollering 20-year-old. Admittedly, he added some flavor!)
To a thunderous, coronary-producing bolt of noise, Stewart appeared on stage, dressed in rocker-tight black jeans, a purple shirt, and a long white jacket. The outfit was undeniably “schizy” and apparently representative of the two idioms of music Stewart now performs.
A blond wisp of a fellow, he gracefully danced, with spurious clown-like gestures, from one end of the stage to the other, at last leaning over the stage to schmooze with a member of the audience – who paid $100 for the kick.
When the initial love-fest somewhat died down, Stewart took to center stage and belted out in his gravelly, yet powerful voice, “Forever Young.” The audience went wild!
Characteristic of Stewart’s astrological sign, Capricorn, is youthfulness with age. However, at 59, he is some kind of a miracle, and not only for his lineless face and slim-hipped figure. His endurance is also daunting.
Stewart takes the audience for an ebullient, nostalgic 90-minute ride. Then, he breaks for 15 minutes, while the fans also catch their breath.
When Stewart re-emerges on stage, he is dressed in a tux, tails and all. The band and background singers are also decked out in formal wear – tuxes and long black gowns.
During the remaining 60 minutes of the concert, Stewart sings four consecutive standards from his new CD, beginning with “As Time Goes By” (a little rough around the edges), and ending with the tightly executed “The Way You Look Tonight.” And finally, bringing us full circle, he returns to his hits, “Do You Think I’m Sexy?” and “Maggie May.”
Stewart turns the page of American popular music. I rethought my own immutable purist position that some things are best left untouched by time.
This is not a concert about a cultural icon who, for better or for worse, is sought out to be viewed. This event is instead about a star who has the same magic he served up 30-odd years ago.
